The University of Washington football team entered the Apple Cup with a promising outlook, only to see its running back corps crippled by injuries to Quaid Carr and Jayden Limar, forcing a rapid reshuffle ahead of the matchup against Utah State.
Carr, a 5‑foot‑11 second‑year from Riverside, California, suffered a hand injury after carrying the ball five times for 28 yards in his first college start, a setback that will require surgery and sidelines him for the remainder of the season. Limar, the Oregon transfer who had led the Huskies with 12 carries for 47 yards and an 11‑yard touchdown, damaged his elbow late in the game, further depleting the position.
The injury toll extends beyond the Apple Cup, as the Huskies have already lost three running backs since spring ball, including original starter Jordan Washington, who remains sidelined with a neck injury and is not expected to return this year.
In the wake of those setbacks, freshman Brian Bonner Jr., who amassed 1,051 yards and 15 touchdowns at Valencia High School, and transfer Trey Cooley, a former Louisville, Georgia Tech and Troy back who logged a single yard on four attempts in the Apple Cup, have emerged as the primary candidates to fill the void, while Ansu Sanoe also remains a potential option.
Coach Jedd Fisch, in his sixth year at the helm, acknowledged the unprecedented challenge of losing two significant backs in the same position group, but emphasized that the team will lean on its most capable players to find a solution for the upcoming game.